Grinding-mill



(No Model.)

M. J. ALTHOUSE.

GRINDING MILL.

No. 385,035. Patented June 26, 1888.

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i i i UNiTnn STATES MILO J. ALTHOUSE, OF VVAUPUN, WISCONSIN.

GRINDING-MILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,035, dated J 11118 26, 1888.

Serial No. 286,193. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MILo J. ALTHoUsmof Waupun, in the county of Fond du Lacand State of \Viseonsin, have invented certain Improvements in Grinding-Mills, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to that class of disk-mills commonly known as double grinders, in which a single shaft carries at opposite ends rotary disks-arranged to cooperate with opposing disks suitably fixed in position.

The aims of the invention are more particularly to provide a simple means for maintainmg the separation of the cooperating disks when the supply of material is exhausted.

In the accompanying drawings,Fi gu rel represents a longitudinal vertical section through the main portion of a grinding-mill having my lmprovements embodied therein. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on the liner :r. Fig. 3 is a view of one of the feed-spouts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame of the mill,which may be of any ordinary form and construction, provided with hearings or a, giving support to the horizontal shaft B B, which is extended therethrough from one side of the machine to the other. This shaft is provided at its middle with a driving-pulley, O, and at its opposite ends with the two vertical disks D D',which co-operate in the ordinary manner with the stationary disks E E, fixed to the frame, and loosely encircle the ends of the shaft, as usual.

In applying my improvement I divide the shaftB B transversely at its middle within the driving-pulley, and insert between its two ends the spiral spring G, by which the two sections are urged apart in an endwise direction in order to separate the rotary disks D D from the opposing disks E E.

In order that both sections of the shaft may receive a positive rotation from the driving pulley, I connect them thereto by longitudinal keys F F, seated in slots in the shaft and pulley, as shown in Fig. 2, the arrangement being such that the shaft-sections may slide freelyin a longitudinal direction in relation to the pulley and to each other. If desired, one end of the shaft may be keyed or otherwise fastened rigidly to thedriving-pulley; but this arrangement is objectionable, for the reason that the pulley would then partake of the longitudinal movement of the shaft.

In place of thekeys represented in the drawings, any other equivalent sliding connection familiarto the skilled mechanic may be sub stituted.

While Iprefer to employ the spiral spring as the most simple means of spreading the parts of the shaft, I may substitute as equivalents therefor weighted levers, as shown by the dotted lines H H, their upper ends being arranged to act against collars on the shaft.

In practice it frequently occurs that nails, fragments of stone, and other coarse refractory matters will find their way into the mill, and that they will either choke the throat and prevent the proper feeding action or, passing between the grinding-surfaces, will mutilate the same. To remedy this difficulty I propose to provide the feed-spout, commonly known as the shaker, with a perforated sheet or screen of peculiar construction, which will permit the passage of thegraintherethrough, but intercept the coarse matters and deliver them from the mill.

L L represent the main hoppers, mounted on top of the mill and delivering into the shakers or feedspouts M, through which the material is delivered to the grinding devices.

The shakers M may be supported and operated as in my application No. 204,8l1, filed on the 11th day of June, 1886, or in any other known manner. Each shaker is provided in its top with a perforated sheet or screen, N, upon which the material is delivered from the main hopper, and through which the grain may pass to the lower surface of the conductor, on which it flows downward until it reaches the bottom opening,d,tl1rougl1 which it passes to the grinding-disks. The screening-surface is extended beyond the end of the shaker or otherwise extended, so that the coarse matters which are delivered from and retained by the surface will be carried over and delivered from the machine, and the upper end of the screen is made without perforations, the better to distribute the grain falling thereon.

As shown in the drawings, the upper end of the screen-plate-the portion lying beneath the mouth of the hopper-is left solid or imperforate, so that it serves to receive the impact of the falling grain and to spread or distribute the same before it reaches the perforated surface. In this way the danger of the screen be- 5 ing choked by matters descending directly and forcibly into its openings is avoided.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is- 1. In a double grinding-mill, and in combi- IO nation With the divided shaft provided with grinding-disks at its ends, the driving-pulley having the sliding connection with one .or both parts of the shaft, and the spring or its described eqnivalent acting to urge the two por- 15 tions of the shaft apart.

2. Inadonblegrinding-mill,thetransverselydivided shaft, the intermediate spring, and the driving-pulley encircling the ends of both shaft-connections and coupled thereto by a sliding connection, substantially as described. 20

In testimony whereoflhereunto set my hand, this 15th day of March, 1887, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

MILO .T. ALTHOUSE.

Witnesses:

I. E. BRINKERHOFF, R. L. OLIVER. 

